neat freak

Anybody else's LO a neat freak? I mean, I'm not complaining but it does seem a little strange to me what my 16 month old does. She NEEDS to have a napkin when eating, because she wipes her hands, face and tray whenever something is on it. She doesn't like finger paint or goo. I have to dip her fingers in it and she either just sits there staring at her dirty hand or will scream until I wipe it off. She doesn't like wet sand on her hands either or when she plays in a puddle, she will go inside each time to get a towel. The other day she spilled her water cup, got to the cupboard, took out a towel and cleaned it all up. When she plays with toys she usually puts them back where she got them from before pulling out a new one. When she sees a paper or something on the ground, she picks it up and carries it to the trash can. I was thinking about some kind of sensory disorder, but even though she eats with utensils she doesn't mind eating with her hands. Generally when food is on her hands it doesn't really seem to bother her. It's not like she is totally organized, she is a toddler afterall and we do have toys around on the ground that she trips over lol. Is it just because I made her clean up from a very early age on and do wipe her down after she eats and she picked it up from that? Any other kiddos doing this?!

Anybody else's LO a neat freak? I mean, I'm not complaining but it does seem a little strange to me what my 16 month old does. She NEEDS to have a napkin when eating, because she wipes her hands, face and tray whenever something is on it. She doesn't like finger paint or goo. I have to dip her fingers in it and she either just sits there staring at her dirty hand or will scream until I wipe it off. She doesn't like wet sand on her hands either or when she plays in a puddle, she will go inside each time to get a towel. The other day she spilled her water cup, got to the cupboard, took out a towel and cleaned it all up. When she plays with toys she usually puts them back where she got them from before pulling out a new one. When she sees a paper or something on the ground, she picks it up and carries it to the trash can. I was thinking about some kind of sensory disorder, but even though she eats with utensils she doesn't mind eating with her hands. Generally when food is on her hands it doesn't really seem to bother her. It's not like she is totally organized, she is a toddler afterall and we do have toys around on the ground that she trips over lol. Is it just because I made her clean up from a very early age on and do wipe her down after she eats and she picked it up from that? Any other kiddos doing this?!

not quite. DD leaves toys everywhere and makes a mess when she can. loves the beach (sand + water = a whole lot of fun). But when it comes to shoes, they have to be put in the boot tray, very neatly, flat on the soles of the shoes, side by side. I just kick mine off as I'm walking through, but she has to organize her shoes just right. I'm sure DD has a case of "toddler OCD", just based on other things she does, like always closing the door between the kitchen and entry, but I'm not worried about it. She has been a very strong minded little girl since day 1.

not quite. DD leaves toys everywhere and makes a mess when she can. loves the beach (sand + water = a whole lot of fun). But when it comes to shoes, they have to be put in the boot tray, very neatly, flat on the soles of the shoes, side by side. I just kick mine off as I'm walking through, but she has to organize her shoes just right. I'm sure DD has a case of "toddler OCD", just based on other things she does, like always closing the door between the kitchen and entry, but I'm not worried about it. She has been a very strong minded little girl since day 1.

My nephew was like your LO until he was about 5. As a toddler I would try to get him to use sidewalk chalk but he hated it because it got his hands dirty!

One time when he was about 3 I got him up from his nap after the maids had come. They had rearranged some things on the bathroom counter and while on the potty he pointed and said uh oh that's not suppose to be there! I mad him leave it where it was but it bugged him. Now at 9 he is just a regular kid who leaves his stuff everywhere and plays in the dirt.

My boy isn't happy unless he is covered in a mess!!

My nephew was like your LO until he was about 5. As a toddler I would try to get him to use sidewalk chalk but he hated it because it got his hands dirty!

One time when he was about 3 I got him up from his nap after the maids had come. They had rearranged some things on the bathroom counter and while on the potty he pointed and said uh oh that's not suppose to be there! I mad him leave it where it was but it bugged him. Now at 9 he is just a regular kid who leaves his stuff everywhere and plays in the dirt.

Lol, glad you said that it might change! We did water play today, she kept going in the tub, realized it is wet, climbed out, dried off and then started again. Then she noticed the floor was wet so she started drying that off as well. She also closes toilet lids, drawers and doors. It's not like she is creepily obsessed with stuff but notices little things on people as well, like when people have their hair up, or when someone wears glasses that usually doesn't. Guess she is just a neat and observant kid so far? I'm sure when she is a teenager I'll think back to these clean days lol

Lol, glad you said that it might change! We did water play today, she kept going in the tub, realized it is wet, climbed out, dried off and then started again. Then she noticed the floor was wet so she started drying that off as well. She also closes toilet lids, drawers and doors. It's not like she is creepily obsessed with stuff but notices little things on people as well, like when people have their hair up, or when someone wears glasses that usually doesn't. Guess she is just a neat and observant kid so far? I'm sure when she is a teenager I'll think back to these clean days lol

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